What is better energy-saving or LED lamps: a comparison

The rise in electricity prices is forcing us to save where we had not even thought about spending before. For example, the replacement of incandescent lamps has become massive. There are much more economical light sources – fluorescent and LED. But how to decide which ones to put – energy-saving or LED lamps? To make a decision, you need to compare their characteristics. And it’s better to do it objectively. 

Which are more economical

The name “energy-saving” has stuck with us in relation to compact fluorescent lamps (CCL). At the time of their widespread use, they were the most economical. Especially if you compare them with the usual incandescent lamps – housekeepers consume 3-4 times less energy. Later they began to “promote” LED light sources. They consume even less electricity, which means they are the most economical.

To see the difference, see the table. It shows the power consumption of LED, fluorescent lamps and those familiar to us with a tungsten filament. They all have the same (or almost) luminous flux, but as you can see, the power consumption is very different. A 3 W LED lamp is equal in light power to a 7 W energy-saving lamp or a 20 W incandescent lamp. A 5 W diode lamp will replace a 12-13 watt “housekeeper” or 40 watt incandescent. These are averaged data, since the indicators vary somewhat for different manufacturers, but, in general, the proportions remain the same.

Already by this table alone, it is easy to say that energy-saving or LED lamps are the most economical. But that’s not all the advantages of LED technology. We will talk about them further (as well as about the shortcomings, however).

Life time

If we talk about service life, then the average for energy-saving ones is on average 10 hours. For LED, this figure is higher: on average – 000 hours, but there are requests from manufacturers for 30-000 thousand hours of operation.

It seems that LED lamps are among the leaders here, but there is one caveat. Both technologies have a rather significant drawback: over time, their glow intensity gradually decreases. There is a so-called “burnout”. In this regard, it is worth focusing not on the declared time of work, but on the warranty period. It more accurately reflects the actual position. After all, if something happens to the lamp at this time, the manufacturer will have to replace the device with a new one. The less often such cases happen, the better. That is why manufacturers tend to underestimate the warranty period, as they bear financial responsibility.

And if we compare energy-saving and LED lamps by the warranty period, there is also a difference. For LEDs, the average is 3 years, for housekeepers – 1 year. There are more / less, but these are particulars. So here, comparing, energy-saving or LED lamps are better, LED technology is the best.

Dimensions and appearance

Everyone knows the type and size of energy-saving lamps. This is a tube with a phosphor twisted into a complex spiral. The most compact ones can fit into a medium-sized ceiling, but in most cases they stick out of ordinary lamps, and with built-in ones they look “not so hot” at all.

LED lamps can be quite small. A three-watt crystal can be made in the form of a circle with a diameter of 1,5-2 cm. And this is the equivalent of a 7 W energy-saving device, which has a minimum size of 32 * 79 mm. Such miniature sizes of LEDs make it possible to make recessed fixtures of very small thickness – 2 cm or less. And this is with a heatsink to remove the heat that the LEDs emit during operation. Such small dimensions allow them to be built into furniture or lower suspended and stretch ceilings to a very small height.

If we talk about a more familiar format – with a flask, then the shape and size of the flask can be completely different. This detail is optional – the LED does not require a vacuum or a specific gas environment. So it’s more of a tribute to tradition. There are bulbless lamps, which are called “corn” for their characteristic appearance. Their service life is determined by the quality of the LEDs, and not by the integrity of the shell, which, in fact, does not exist. You can even assemble lighting in general from individual LEDs on a metal heatsink plate or even without it. In general, both the size and appearance of LED lamps can be different. And here, when deciding which energy-saving or LED lamps are better, we certainly come to the conclusion that LED lamps are better – they can be almost invisible, they can have any shape and size.

Convenience and safety of use

Everyone knows that in fluorescent lamps the tubes are filled with a phosphor, which begins to glow under certain conditions. It takes some time to create these conditions. Sometimes it is almost imperceptible, and sometimes the delay after switching on can be a second or even a little more. This is not the most pleasant phenomenon that you have to put up with. LED lamps light up immediately after the voltage is applied. In this they are definitely better.

Today, more and more people are trying to make lighting with the ability to change the intensity of light. This is achieved either by a complex circuit with a large number of switches, or by installing a dimmer – a small device that allows you to smoothly change the level of illumination. But the fact is that not all lamps can work with a dimmer. Energy savers can’t. They need a certain level of voltage and its shape, and the dimmer just distorts the shape. But some LED lamps can work with this device. Just look for dimmable ones when choosing LED bulbs. This ability is indicated in the technical specifications. Minus – such light sources with equal characteristics are more expensive.

Another point in favor of LED lamps. Their flask (if any) is made of impact-resistant plastic. Energy-saving fluorescent – made of glass. Moreover, damage to the tube is fatal – the light source stops working. In addition, some (cheap) housekeepers contain mercury vapor, so that a glass tube damaged by a phosphor can cause serious harm to health. This also leads to difficulties with recycling – special enterprises for the processing of such lighting devices are needed.

And the last point regarding ease of use – neither an incandescent nor a fluorescent lamp can be restored after a failure. When damaged, they completely lose their functionality. LED lamps usually consist of a number of crystals located on the body. When one or more crystals fail, the luminous flux decreases, but the light is still emitted, albeit in a smaller amount. In addition, if you wish and the ability to handle a soldering iron, you can replace the burned-out elements, restoring the previous brightness.

So, deciding whether energy-saving or LED lamps are better in terms of ease of use, we see that LED lamps are more practical and safer.

Prices and yet what is better …

Everyone knows that LED lamps are more expensive. This is perhaps the only point on which fluorescent lamps are ahead. But today the difference in price is not as great as before. They are already almost equal. If we take, for example, light sources of the same manufacturer with the same equivalent (or almost the same) in relation to incandescent lamps, then the prices are almost identical.

For example, Camelion lamps (Chamelion). Energy-saving lamp – LH15-FS-T2-M / 864 / E14 is the equivalent of a 75 W incandescent lamp, costs 160-225 rubles.  LED lamp – Camelion LED8-C35 / 830 / E27 (also equivalent to 75 W incandescent) – 170-230 rubles. Both series are basic, without any special “bells and whistles”, and if we take into account the savings on electricity (8 W vs. LED lamps” does not occur. The solution is probably unequivocal – more economical, easy to use and durable LED. They are the best to install instead of incandescent lamps.

But in the press and the Internet, a lot of information has recently appeared that LEDs are harmful – they emit a harmful spectrum and flicker. As for the spectrum, there is no confirmed data, but flicker, flicker and luminescent. But they always flicker, and there are LEDs without pulsations, they just cost a lot more. In general, the decision is yours.